With the Africa Energy Bank recently signed into implementation by the African Petroleum Producers Organization and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Africa is poised to bridge its infrastructure funding gap and accelerate the development of energy projects across the continent – signalling a new era of hydrocarbon growth and financing. The upcoming African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 conference will host a dedicated Energy Finance Summit in partnership with Afreximbank, led by its President and Chairman Benedict Oramah and market intelligence firm S&P Global Commodity Insights, focused on securing new investments among a shifting energy landscape.

During the forum, a series of sessions will outline the latest commitments from major financial institutions. Earlier this month, the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a $500-million loan to support the development of 250 GW of installed electricity capacity in Nigeria by 2050, as well as a $135-million package for the Union of the Comoros to finance a major maritime and regional trade project. Together with the World Bank, the AfDB also recently announced plans to invest $30 billion over the next five years to boost electricity supply for 300 million Africans. A session on Financing Energy Infrastructure will focus on mobilizing additional public and private finance for large-scale energy infrastructure projects, with a view to improving energy access and supporting the continent’s sustainable development goals.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

The Energy Finance Summit will also feature a session on Financing New Energy in Africa, addressing the opportunities and challenges associated with renewable energy projects amid high interest rates and regulatory hurdles. Last month, Guinea-Bissau bagged a $35-million grant for its first solar power plants, set to produce 30 MW of solar power with battery energy storage systems, as well as a transmission grid enhancement. The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credits and British multinational bank Standard Chartered recently partnered to develop a $111-million, off-grid solar street light project in Senegal, showcasing the role of joint financing models in driving sustainable energy solutions. Key speakers on the session include Olumide Ogunfowora, Managing Partner of Argentil Capital Management and Kevin Rodrigues, Regional Managing Director, Europe and Africa at bp Ventures.

Despite the global lending shift toward clean energy sources, African oil and gas projects have still been able to mobilize private capital. Last month, independent upstream company Invictus Energy secured $10 million for the development of the Cabora Bassa oil and gas project in Zimbabwe from private equity firm Mangwana Capital and Zimbabwean sovereign wealth fund Mutapa Investment Fund. Additionally, Nigerian integrated energy solutions provider Oando PLC secured an $800-million loan from Afreximbank to acquire Eni’s local subsidiary Nigerian Agip Oil Company, allowing Oando to increase its participating interests in the Northern Niger Delta and accelerate oil and gas activities across the region. At AEW: Invest in African Energy, a Financing Upstream Oil&Gas in the Age of Transition session will explore trends, investment strategies and innovative financing models for upstream projects.

The Energy Finance Summit will also feature dedicated sessions on Developing a Sustainable Finance Strategy for African Downstream; Spotlight on African M&A and ESG Financing in the African Energy and Oil&Gas Sector. These sessions will explore the roles of non-traditional financing tools, strategic partnerships and the integration of ESG criteria in unlocking foreign investment across Africa’s energy value chain.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Global technology company SLB will lead a workshop ahead of the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) conference this October (2-3). Taking place during the pre-conference program on October 1, the workshop will delve into strategies for increasing production through intervention performance, reservoir recovery as well as low-cost, low-carbon incremental barrels. Titled Unlocking Production Enhancement in Angola with Collaborative Excellence SLB Integrated Performance Excellence Center, the SLB session will be led by Rajesh Trivedi, Production Workflows Business Development Manager at SLB Europe and Africa, and Dr. Ali Ahmed Jama, Head of Production Enhancement at SLB sub-Saharan Africa.

SLB is also hosting a virtual guided tour of the company’s Integrated Performance Excellence (IPX) Center – situated in Luanda – during the workshop, offering the opportunity for operators to gain insight into SLB’s differentiated domain expertise and technology portfolio. As a collaborative environment, SLB’s IPX Center showcases the organization’s digital workflows and how it drives proactive intervention and stimulation solutions.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; national oil company Sonangol; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the African Energy Chamber; and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute, the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

As one of the largest oil producers in sub-Saharan Africa, Angola aims to maintain national production above one million barrels per day beyond 2027. This highlights a strategic opportunity for new players as well as existing operators both on- and offshore. To support production growth in active assets, the country is implementing an incremental production initiative to entice companies to reinvest in producing licenses. The first well of this initiative – the Likember-01 research well drilled by ExxonMobil in Block 15 – encountered hydrocarbons in May 2024, affirming the potential for resource recovery and increased production. Despite progress, mature oilfields need more investment to meet production goals. The upcoming incremental production initiative, expected to be approved by President João Lourenço, offers a framework for investment, including license extensions and favorable fiscal terms.

Active in Angola for 55 years, SLB has played an instrumental part in supporting industry growth through technological innovation, and as the country aims to maximize output at producing fields, SLB stands ready to support intervention approaches. As such, the SLB-led workshop and virtual guided tour aims to provide better insight into strategies for maximizing resource recovery in Angola. The session will unpack how operators can improve intervention performance and accelerate production incrementally. Senior executives and cross-functional teams within exploration and development; production management and technology; intervention and asset management; and reservoir management from major operators in Angola stand to benefit from the session.   

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain strategic insights from industry experts Trivedi and Jama and explore the potential of production enhancement in Angola. To register for the workshop and the AOG conference, visit www.AngolaOilandGas.com or contact us at sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

According to the President, through proper usage of the systems, citizens are able to demand accountability from their leaders as far as government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga are concerned.

“NRM has empowered Ugandans with the strength to catch thieves, but you are not utilising the system. We included LCI, LCII, LCIII and LC 5 to the administration to create a layer that would check on the misappropriation of funds and the stealing of drugs from hospitals. Use the LC system to demand accountability on government programs in your area,” he advised.

President Museveni made the call yesterday during the thanksgiving ceremony of Hon. John Mulimba, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in-charge of Regional Cooperation. The well attended ceremony was held at Nakhoola Primary School in Busia district.

The President also urged all leaders at all levels to support the NRM government in the implementation of the Universal Primary and Secondary Education programs.

“NRM wants all children to go to school without any sabotage. Chairman LC 5, LC3 and LC1 must implement this program,” he stressed.

President Museveni pointed out that UPE was introduced in 1997 and the government constructed classrooms, pays teachers, sends capitation grants but the school committees and Head teachers still charge fees and because of that children drop out of school.

“This one I don’t support. If the money sent is not enough we shall increase,” he said.

He also encouraged the people of Busia district to deeply get involved in modern commercial agriculture for both food and financial security.

He further called on leaders to advise citizens on wealth creation.

“You must get involved in wealth creation. I see most of you here are adults, very few children. there’s no miracle for wealth creation you must work,” he stressed.

The President also advised the youth who don’t have land to take advantage of other initiatives like Emyooga to support their enterprises.

“I know the youth might say land belongs to our parents so my pressure is on the parents, use your land for the prosperity of your family and the youth can use other channels like that of Emyooga for enterprises that don’t need much land,” he urged.

“You, the leaders, help the youth to access Emyooga funds and also get spaces where they can work from. You should be serious not just talking. Those who have worked have succeeded.”

The Vice President, H.E. Jessica Alupo acknowledged the importance of good neighbourliness as delegations from neighbouring countries also attended the function. She said this sends a strong message of Pan-Africanism and oneness of African people.

The host, Hon. Mulimba thanked God for the blessings bestowed upon his life.

“He has provided me with more than ever I could imagine. Lord, you have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends. God blesses me everyday with His kind words and actions. Thank you for keeping me safe,” Hon. Mulimba said.

He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to President Museveni for the trust bestowed upon him following his appointment as a minister in his government.

“Mzee, I don’t take my appointment as a Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for granted nor do I take your acceptance to grace this occasion of thanksgiving for granted. Out of a population of 45 million people in Uganda, only 81 people are appointed to cabinet. My sincere gratitude for the opportunity and confidence you bestowed to me to serve our motherland Uganda.”

Hon. Mulimba also pledged to serve with dignity and the best of his ability.

He used the same occasion to announce the crossover of 1,400 former supporters of opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) to NRM.

The colourful ceremony was also attended by among others cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the diplomatic corps as well as religious and cultural leaders.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Uganda.

Multiple attacks on the city of El Fasher have taken place over the last week, resulting in a rise of wounded people arriving at the MSF-supported Saudi hospital; The hospital itself was attacked on 11 August, showing that warring parties are not making efforts to protect health facilities or civilians; The warring parties must protect civilians and health structures, as well as let humanitarian supplies pass through unobstructed.

As the fighting escalates in El Fasher, Sudan, once more, its impact on the lives of civilians is becoming increasingly devastating. Multiple attacks on the city have taken place over the past week and since Saturday, at least 15 people have been killed, more than 130 have been injured, and yet another attack on Saudi hospital, where the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) supports with fuel and supplies, has occurred. Saudi is last remaining public hospital in the city with the capacity to treat the wounded and perform surgery. This attack caused extensive damage and has left the facility only partially functioning.

The attack took place on Sunday 11 August, marking the 11th time a hospital in El Fasher has been hit since the fighting escalated on 10 May. The surgical ward was hit during the bombardment, killing the carer of a patient and injuring five others, while the maternity unit was also damaged. In addition, a number of hospital offices were hit, and a nurse sustained injuries while working inside.

Already, Saudi hospital had been inundated with wounded people following heavy fighting on Saturday 10 August. Over 100 people arrived at the facility that day, and 14 passed away from their injuries. At the same time, 15 casualties were brought from El Fasher to our facilities in Zamzam camp, located 15 kilometres from the city. It is expected that the fighting will become even more intense over the coming days. 

“For more than three months, people in El Fasher have been under constant bombardment,” says Michel Olivier Lacharité, head of MSF’s emergency operations. “Shelling from both sides has impacted on the city resulting in over 2,500 casualties arriving at MSF-supported hospitals and more than 370 of these patients passing away from their injuries. The number of victims of the conflict is unknown.” 

“Sunday’s attack on Saudi hospital – which is the largest hospital in North Darfur state – makes it crystal clear that the warring parties are making no efforts to protect health facilities or the civilians inside them,” says Lacharité. “Patients fear for their lives as a result of the relentless attacks.” 

“People are moving to Zamzam to flee the fighting in El Fasher, but those already in the camp also fear for their lives – Zamzam was hit by shelling just one week ago and there are very real fears that this will happen again,” he says. “We are preparing to receive more casualties in Zamzam – especially as the fighting in El Fasher means that people cannot easily reach Saudi hospital. However, our field hospital has been built to treat children with malnutrition and paediatric diseases – it is not currently set up to treat the wounded.”

“There is no operating theatre and no blood bank, which means our team will be under exceptional pressure if casualties continue to arrive,” says Lacharité. “Additionally, people in the camp are already facing life-threatening issues of their own. MSF raised the alarm about the catastrophic malnutrition crisis there over six months ago, and now the Famine Review Committee has declared a state of famine in the camp.”

“We urge the warring parties to let humanitarian supplies pass through without being obstructed, and we also urge them to protect civilians and health structures,” says Lacharité. “Saudi is the last remaining public hospital in North Darfur with the capacity to effectively treat the wounded. If it, or our facilities in Zamzam, are hit again and become non-functional, there will be nowhere left for the injured to seek care and the death toll will soar.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).